Methods and Systems for Altering Virtual Button Arrangements Presented on One or More Displays of an Electronic Device

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a device housing and one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons in a predefined arrangement relative to a first end of the device housing. One or more sensors detect a condition of the electronic device, such as an approaching object, change in the direction of gravity, or an object tapping or pushing the electronic device. One or more processors cause, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the condition, the one or more displays to present the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefined arrangement that is different from the predefined arrangement.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application claiming priority under35 USC § 120 from U.S. application Ser. No. 18/107,340, filed Feb. 8,2023, which is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 USC§ 120 from U.S. application Ser. No. 17/393,764, filed Aug. 4, 2021,which is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 USC § 120from U.S. application Ser. No. 16/907,538, filed Jun. 22, 2020, which isincorporated by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, and moreparticularly to electronic devices with displays.

Background Art

Portable electronic device usage has become ubiquitous. Vast majoritiesof the population carry a smartphone, tablet computer, or laptopcomputer daily to communicate with others, stay in formed, to consumeentertainment, and to manage their lives.

As the technology incorporated into these portable electronic deviceshas become more advanced, so to has their feature set. A modernsmartphone includes more computing power than a desktop computer didonly a few years ago. Additionally, while early generation portableelectronic devices included physical keypads, most modern portableelectronic devices include touch-sensitive displays. It would beadvantageous to have an improved electronic device allowing moreintuitive usage of these new features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate viewsand which together with the detailed description below are incorporatedin and form part of the specification, serve to further illustratevarious embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages allin accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates one explanatory electronic device in accordance withone or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an explanatory block diagram schematic for oneelectronic device configured in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of one explanatory displayassembly in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates one explanatory electronic device operating inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates one or more explanatory method steps in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates one or more explanatory method steps in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates one or more explanatory method steps in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates one or more explanatory method steps in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates one or more explanatory method steps in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates one or more explanatory method steps in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates one or more explanatory method steps in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with thepresent disclosure, it should be observed that the embodiments resideprimarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus componentsrelated to altering an arrangement of one or more virtual buttonspresented on a display of an electronic device. Any process descriptionsor blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules,segments, or portions of code that include one or more executableinstructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in theprocess.

Alternate implementations are included, and it will be clear thatfunctions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed,including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending onthe functionality involved. Accordingly, the apparatus components andmethod steps have been represented where appropriate by conventionalsymbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that arepertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure soas not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readilyapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thedescription herein.

Embodiments of the disclosure do not recite the implementation of anycommonplace business method aimed at processing business information,nor do they apply a known business process to the particulartechnological environment of the Internet. Moreover, embodiments of thedisclosure do not create or alter contractual relations using genericcomputer functions and conventional network operations. Quite to thecontrary, embodiments of the disclosure employ methods that, whenapplied to electronic device and/or user interface technology, improvethe functioning of the electronic device itself by and improving theoverall user experience to overcome problems specifically arising in therealm of the technology associated with electronic device userinteraction.

It will be appreciated that embodiments of the disclosure describedherein may be comprised of one or more conventional processors andunique stored program instructions that control the one or moreprocessors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processorcircuits, some, most, or all of the functions of one or more processorscausing one or more displays presenting one or more user actuationtargets defining one or more virtual buttons in a predefined arrangementto present those user actuation targets in a different predefinedarrangement based upon one or more conditions as described herein. Thenon-processor circuits may include, but are not limited to, a radioreceiver, a radio transmitter, signal drivers, clock circuits, powersource circuits, and user input devices.

As such, these functions may be interpreted as steps of a method toperform the causing of one or more displays to present the one or moreuser actuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons inanother predefined arrangement that is different from a first predefinedarrangement originally presented. Alternatively, some or all functionscould be implemented by a state machine that has no stored programinstructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits(ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of thefunctions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination ofthe two approaches could be used. Thus, methods and means for thesefunctions have been described herein. Further, it is expected that oneof ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and manydesign choices motivated by, for example, available time, currenttechnology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts andprinciples disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating suchsoftware instructions and programs and ASICs with minimalexperimentation.

Embodiments of the disclosure are now described in detail. Referring tothe drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. Asused in the description herein and throughout the claims, the followingterms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includesplural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” Relationalterms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be usedsolely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or actionwithout necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationshipor order between such entities or actions.

As used herein, components may be “operatively coupled” when informationcan be sent between such components, even though there may be one ormore intermediate or intervening components between, or along theconnection path. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within tenpercent, in another embodiment within five percent, in anotherembodiment within 1 percent and in another embodiment within one-halfpercent. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected,although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically.Also, reference designators shown herein in parenthesis indicatecomponents shown in a figure other than the one in discussion. Forexample, talking about a device (10) while discussing figure A wouldrefer to an element, 10, shown in figure other than figure A.

Embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that electronic devices areevolving to have displays on more than just the major surfaces. Forexample, while conventional electronic devices frequently include adisplay positioned solely on a single major surface of the devicehousing, embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that electronicdevices will soon include displays on the first major surface and secondmajor surface as well. Embodiments of the disclosure contemplate thatsome designers will desire displays on the minor surfaces as well.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide as an explanatory embodiment anelectronic device that includes a “wrapped” display comprising a unitarypre-formed glass fascia that is coupled to a device housing whilewrapping around at least two sides of the device housing. The use ofsuch a wrapped display eliminates seams, lines, or other mechanicalfeatures between, for example, display surfaces positioned on minorsurfaces of the electronic device and display surfaces positioned on themajor surfaces of the electronic device. The use of a wrapped displayalso provides a waterfall effect around the device housing with acontinuous display surface so that content and other information can bepresented without interruption.

The wrapped display used in explanatory embodiments advantageouslyenable new user experiences and designs. Illustrating by example, theuse of this wrapped, waterfall display allows buttons that may normallybe placed upon the side of the electronic device to be replaced bydynamically presented user actuation targets defining one or morevirtual buttons. In one or more embodiments, a unitary pre-formed glassfascia includes one or more squeeze sensors that allow the unitarypre-formed glass fascia to deflect when a user actuates one of the useractuation targets. Accordingly, physical buttons such as an up-downrocker button that can be used to control volume of audio, brightness ofa display, or other functions, can be replaced by a seamless andfashionable user actuation target presented on the minor surfaces of thewaterfall display.

Embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that while such virtualbuttons are stylish, sleek, and elegant, the fact that the waterfalldisplay is smooth along its surface can make it challenging for a userto determine the orientation of the electronic device, especially whenusing the sense of touch only. While electronic devices having physicalbuttons make it possible to run a finger along the side of the device todetermine which end is up and where the physical buttons are located,electronic devices configured with either segmented displays on theminor surfaces or a waterfall display defined by a unitary pre-formedglass fascia in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosuremake this tactile discovery process challenging. Additionally, actuationof the user actuation targets defining the virtual buttons can be achallenge as well because a user may not be able to guess where the useractuation target is positioned by touch alone.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a solution to these problems. Inone or more embodiments, one or more processors of an electronic devicehaving one or more displays presenting one or more user actuationtargets defining one or more virtual buttons in a predefined arrangementrelative to a first end of the device housing are operable to cause theone or more displays to present the one or more user actuation targetsdefining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefinedarrangement that is different from the initial predefined arrangement inresponse to one or more conditions. Illustrating by example, in oneembodiment, one or more sensors of the electronic device detect anobject approaching a portion of the electronic device when theelectronic device is in an enclosed condition, such as when theelectronic device is within a pocket. When this occurs, and when thisportion of the electronic device is a distal portion of the electronicdevice from the first end of the device housing, the one or moreprocessors reverse the predefined arrangement of the one or more virtualbuttons by causing the one or more displays to one or more displays topresent the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or morevirtual buttons in another predefined arrangement that is different fromthe initial predefined arrangement. Thus, when the electronic device ispositioned within a pocket, and a hand reaches into the pocket,whichever end the hand approaches or touches first becomes the “top” ofthe electronic device. Accordingly, if a “volume up” user actuationtarget is typically oriented at the top end of the electronic device,the person can simply grasp the side of the electronic device at the(now) “top” to turn up the volume.

In another embodiment, one or more sensors of the electronic devicedetect a reversal of a direction of gravity relative to the devicehousing due to the electronic device being turned over. In one or moreembodiments, when this occurs, the one or more processors cause any useractuation targets defining virtual buttons to reverse their predefinedarrangement. Said differently, of the one or more displays arepresenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or morevirtual buttons prior to the one or more sensors detecting the reversalof the direction of gravity in a predefined arrangement, in one or moreembodiments the one or more processors cause the one or more displays topresent the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or morevirtual buttons in another predefined arrangement after the one or moresensors detect the reversal of the direction of gravity, with that otherpredefined arrangement being different from the predefined arrangementbeing presented before the electronic device was turned over.

In another embodiment, one or more sensors detect an object tapping orpushing a portion of the device housing along a direction of gravitywhen the electronic device is in an enclosed condition, such as when theelectronic device is situated within a pocket. In one or moreembodiments, when this occurs, the one or more processors cause any useractuation targets defining any virtual buttons to reverse theirpresentation arrangement. For example, if the one or more displays arepresenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or morevirtual buttons in a predefined arrangement relative to a first end ofthe device housing, after the one or more sensors detect the objecttapping or pushing a portion of the device housing along the directionof gravity while in the enclosed condition the one or more processorscause the one or more displays to present the one or more user actuationtargets defining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefinedarrangement that is different from the first predefined arrangement.

By causing this change in the predefined arrangement of the virtualbuttons, the electronic device simply becomes easier to use. Forinstance, when a person places an electronic device configured inaccordance with embodiments of the disclosure, the person can simplypress the upper portion of an edge of the electronic device to, forexample, turn the volume up, while pressing a lower portion of an edgeof the electronic device to turn the volume down. Embodiments of thedisclosure allow the person to do this without having any knowledge ofthe actual orientation of the electronic device within the pocket, orwithout forcing the user to pull the device out of pocket to view andactuate the right touch button.

Advantageously, if the person places the electronic device “right side”up in a pocket, the person can adjust the volume up (or perform anothercontrol operation) without looking at the electronic device by simplysqueezing the upper portion of the side of the electronic device (inthis case no reversal function performed). In one or more embodiments,this can even be done through clothing, although sliding the hand intothe pocket works as well. If, however, the person places the electronicdevice “upside down” in the pocket, they can perform exact sameoperation to adjust the volume accordingly. They simply squeeze theupper portion of the side of the electronic device to turn the volumeup.

Turning now to FIG. 1 , illustrated therein is one explanatoryelectronic device 100 configured in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1 , the electronicdevice 100 includes a device housing 101 and a pre-formed displayassembly 102. The pre-formed display assembly 102 is coupled to, andwraps around at least two sides 103,104 of the device housing 101. Thepre-formed display assembly 102 is unique in that it is a unitarydisplay with contours that span and wrap about at least one minorsurface, e.g., side 104, while also spanning at least one major surface,e.g., side 103. The electronic device 100 of FIG. 1 includes apre-formed display assembly 102 that is continuous, unitary, andunbroken as it passes, for example, from side 103 to side 104.

Advantageously, the pre-formed display assembly 102 provides a desirablefeature for electronic devices such as smartphones, tablet computers,laptop computers, and the like. In contrast to prior art electronicdevices that have multiple displays with many elements, the electronicdevice 100 of FIG. 1 , with its pre-formed display assembly 102, allowsfor, in one or more embodiments, the device housing 101 to be fullywrapped by the unitary, continuous, pre-formed display assembly 102.This pre-formed display assembly 102 can be referred to as a “waterfall”display because imagery 105 presented on the pre-formed display assembly102 spill from the major surfaces of the pre-formed display assembly 102spanning the major surfaces of the device housing 101 to the curvedcontours of the pre-formed display assembly 102 spanning the minorsurfaces of the device housing 101, thereby cascading about the devicehousing 101 like water going over a waterfall. As will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 4 , in one or more embodiments thesewaterfall side portions can be used to present one or more useractuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons.

Turning now to FIG. 2 , illustrated therein the explanatory electronicdevice 100 of FIG. 1 . As shown, the electronic device 100 includes thedevice housing 101 and the pre-formed display assembly 102. By comparingFIGS. 1 and 2 , it can be seen that the pre-formed display assembly 102spans at least three major faces of the device housing 101. Theseinclude a first major surface of the device housing 101, i.e., side 103,a first minor face of the device housing 101, i.e., side 104, and asecond minor face of the device housing 101, i.e., side 204.

It should be noted that while the pre-formed display assembly 102 spansthe device housing 101 horizontally in FIG. 2 , embodiments of thedisclosure are not so limited. This “belt like” arrangement of thepre-formed display assembly 102 about the device housing 101 isillustrative only. In other embodiments, the pre-formed display assembly102 can be rotated by ninety degrees so as to span the front majorsurface of the device housing 101, the top surface of the device housing101, the bottom surface of the device housing 101, and the rear majorsurface of the device housing 101. Moreover, while the device housing101 of FIG. 1 is substantially rectangular with a cross section 205 thatis obround, embodiments of the disclosure are not so limited. Thepre-formed display assembly 102 can be formed to span any number ofsurfaces. Thus, if the device housing 101 had a cross section 205 withfour, five, six, or more surfaces, the pre-formed display assembly 102could have its unitary pre-formed fascia's interior surfaces correspondto the exterior surfaces of the device housing 101. Thus, while oneillustrative pre-formed display assembly 102 and device housing 101configuration and/or arrangement are shown in FIG. 2 for illustrativepurposes, numerous others will be obvious to those of ordinary skill inthe art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Additionally, it should be noted that the electronic device 100 can beone of various types of devices. In one embodiment, the electronicdevice 100 is a portable electronic device, one example of which is asmartphone that will be used in the figures for illustrative purposes.However, it should be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of this disclosure that the electronic device 100could be other types of devices as well, including palm-top computers,tablet computers, gaming devices, media players, wearable devices, orother portable wireless communication devices. Still other devices willbe obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure.

Also illustrated in FIG. 2 is one explanatory block diagram schematic200 of the explanatory electronic device 100. It should be understoodthat the block diagram schematic 200 is provided for illustrativepurposes only and for illustrating components of one electronic device100 in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, and is notintended to be a complete block diagram schematic 200 of the variouscomponents that can be included with the electronic device 100.Therefore, other electronic devices in accordance with embodiments ofthe disclosure may include various other components not shown in FIG. 2, or may include a combination of two or more components or a divisionof a particular component into two or more separate components, andstill be within the scope of the present disclosure.

In one or more embodiments, the block diagram schematic 200 isconfigured as a printed circuit board assembly disposed within thedevice housing 101 of the electronic device 100. Various components canbe electrically coupled together by conductors or a bus disposed alongone or more printed circuit boards.

The illustrative block diagram schematic 200 of FIG. 2 includes manydifferent components. Embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that thenumber and arrangement of such components can change depending on theparticular application. Accordingly, electronic devices configured inaccordance with embodiments of the disclosure can include somecomponents that are not shown in FIG. 2 , and other components that areshown may not be needed and can therefore be omitted.

In one or more embodiments, the device housing 101 of the electronicdevice 100 defines a first major surface at side 103 and a second majorsurface disposed on the opposite side of the first major surface. In oneor more embodiments, the first major surface and the second majorsurface are separated by one or more minor surfaces defined by side 104and side 204. In one or more embodiments, a user interface 201 of theelectronic device 100 includes the pre-formed display assembly 102,which wraps and envelops the first major surface and at least two minorsurfaces.

In one or more embodiments, the pre-formed display assembly 102 isunitary in that it provides a single display that wraps about the devicehousing 101 of the electronic device 100. The pre-formed displayassembly 102 has a first portion that serves as a first display spanninga first major surface of the device housing 101, a second portion thatwraps around the minor surface defined by side 104, and a third portionthat wraps around the minor surface defined by side 104.

In one or more embodiments, the pre-formed display assembly 102comprises a touch sensitive display. Where so configured, information,graphical objects, user actuation targets, and other graphical indiciacan be presented on any portion of the pre-formed display assembly 102.In one or more embodiments, so as to be touch sensitive, the pre-formeddisplay assembly 102 comprises a corresponding touch sensor 202.

In one or more embodiments, the touch sensor 202 can comprise any of acapacitive touch sensor, an infrared touch sensor, resistive touchsensors, another touch-sensitive technology, or combinations thereof.Capacitive touch-sensitive devices include a plurality of capacitivesensors, e.g., electrodes, which are disposed along a substrate. Whereso configured, each capacitive sensor can be configured, in conjunctionwith associated control circuitry, e.g., the one or more processors 203operable with the pre-formed display assembly 102, to detect an objectin close proximity with—or touching—a surface of the pre-formed displayassembly 102 by establishing electric field lines between pairs ofcapacitive sensors and then detecting perturbations of those fieldlines.

The electric field lines can be established in accordance with aperiodic waveform, such as a square wave, sine wave, triangle wave, orother periodic waveform that is emitted by one sensor and detected byanother. The capacitive sensors can be formed, for example, by disposingindium tin oxide patterned as electrodes on the substrate. Indium tinoxide is useful for such systems because it is transparent andconductive. Indium-tin-oxide is capable of being deposited upon thesubstrate in thin layers by way of a printing process. The capacitivesensors may also be deposited on the substrate by electron beamevaporation, physical vapor deposition, or other various sputterdeposition techniques. As will be described below, this substrate canthen be laminated to the unitary pre-formed fascia when it is loaded soas to separate at least two surfaces of the same.

In one or more embodiments, users can deliver user input to thepre-formed display assembly 102 by delivering touch input from a finger,stylus, or other objects disposed proximately with the pre-formeddisplay assembly 102. In one embodiment, the pre-formed display assembly102 is configured as an active matrix organic light emitting diode(AMOLED) display. However, it should be noted that other types ofdisplays, including liquid crystal displays, are suitable for use withthe user interface and would be obvious to those of ordinary skill inthe art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Other features can be situated on the device housing 101 on surfaces notenveloped or covered by the pre-formed display assembly 102. Forinstance, a user interface component 206 such as a button or othercontrol device can be disposed on either the top surface 207 or bottomsurface 208 of the device housing 101 to facilitate additional controlof the electronic device 100. Other features can be added, and can belocated on top surface 207 or bottom surface 208 (or side surface if thepre-formed display assembly 102 is rotated by ninety degrees).Illustrating by example, in one or more embodiments an imager 209 or aloudspeaker 210 can be positioned on either the top surface 207 or thebottom surface 208. As shown in FIG. 1 , one or more connectors (120)can be positioned on the bottom surface 208 of the electronic device aswell. Such connectors (120) can be used to couple the electronic device100 to various accessory devices, such as a headset, headphones, acharger, or other accessory device.

In one embodiment, the electronic device includes one or more processors203. In one embodiment, the one or more processors 203 can include anapplication processor and, optionally, one or more auxiliary processors.One or both of the application processor or the auxiliary processor(s)can include one or more processors. One or both of the applicationprocessor or the auxiliary processor(s) can be a microprocessor, a groupof processing components, one or more ASICs, programmable logic, orother type of processing device.

The application processor and the auxiliary processor(s) can be operablewith the various components of the block diagram schematic 200. Each ofthe application processor and the auxiliary processor(s) can beconfigured to process and execute executable software code to performthe various functions of the electronic device with which the blockdiagram schematic 200 operates. For example, in one embodiment the oneor more processors 203 comprise one or more circuits operable to presentcontent or presentation information, such as images, text, and video, onthe pre-formed display assembly 102. A storage device, such as memory211, can optionally store the executable software code used by the oneor more processors 203 during operation.

In this illustrative embodiment, the block diagram schematic 200 alsoincludes a communication circuit 212 that can be configured for wired orwireless communication with one or more other devices or networks. Thenetworks can include a wide area network, a local area network, and/orpersonal area network. The communication circuit 212 may also utilizewireless technology for communication, such as, but are not limited to,peer-to-peer or ad hoc communications such as HomeRF, Bluetooth and IEEE802.11, and other forms of wireless communication such as infraredtechnology. The communication circuit 212 can include wirelesscommunication circuitry, one of a receiver, a transmitter, ortransceiver, and one or more antennas.

In one embodiment, the one or more processors 203 can be responsible forperforming the primary functions of the electronic device with which theblock diagram schematic 200 is operational. For example, in oneembodiment the one or more processors 203 comprise one or more circuitsoperable with the pre-formed display assembly 102 to presentpresentation information to a user. The executable software code used bythe one or more processors 203 can be configured as one or more modules213 that are operable with the one or more processors 203. Such modules213 can store instructions, control algorithms, and so forth.

Other components 214 can be included with the electronic device 100.Illustrating by example, the other components 214 can include an audioinput/processor. The audio input/processor can receive audio input froman environment about the electronic device 100. The audioinput/processor can include hardware, executable code, and speechmonitor executable code in one embodiment.

In one or more embodiments, the other components 214 can include varioussensors operable with the one or more processors 203. These sensors caninclude a geo-locator that serves as a location detector, an orientationdetector that determines an orientation and/or movement of theelectronic device 100 in three-dimensional space, an imager 209, a faceanalyzer, an environmental analyzer, and gaze detector. The orientationdetector can include an accelerometer, gyroscope(s), or other device todetect device context, such as being in a pocket, as well as orientationand/or motion of the electronic device 100.

The other components 214 can also include output components such asvideo, audio, and/or mechanical outputs. For example, the outputcomponents may include a video output component or auxiliary devicesincluding a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, plasma display,incandescent light, fluorescent light, front or rear projection display,and light emitting diode indicator. Other examples of output componentsinclude audio output components such as a loudspeaker disposed behind aspeaker port or other alarms and/or buzzers and/or a mechanical outputcomponent such as vibrating or motion-based mechanisms.

The other components 214 can also include proximity sensors. Theproximity sensors can fall in to one of two camps: active proximitysensors that include a transmitter and receiver pair, and “passive”proximity sensors that include a receiver only. Either the proximitydetector components or the proximity sensor components can be generallyused for gesture control and other user interface protocols in one ormore embodiments.

The other components 214 can optionally include a barometer operable tosense changes in air pressure due to elevation changes or differingpressures of the electronic device 100. The other components 214 canalso optionally include a light sensor that detects changes in opticalintensity, color, light, or shadow in the environment of an electronicdevice.

The other components 214 can also include one or more motion sensors 215can be configured as an orientation detector 216 that determines anorientation and/or movement of the electronic device 100 inthree-dimensional space 217. Illustrating by example, the orientationdetector 216 can include an accelerometer, gyroscope(s), or other deviceto detect device orientation and/or motion of the electronic device 100.Using an accelerometer as an example, an accelerometer can be includedto detect motion of the electronic device 100 in the three-dimensionalspace 217. Additionally, the accelerometer can be used to sense some ofthe gestures of the user, such as one talking with their hands, running,or walking.

In one or more embodiments, the orientation detector 216 can determinethe spatial orientation of an electronic device 100 in three-dimensionalspace 217 by, for example, detecting a direction of gravity 218. Inaddition to, or instead of, an accelerometer, an electronic compass canbe included to detect the spatial orientation of the electronic device100 relative to the earth's magnetic field. Similarly, one or moregyroscopes can be included to detect rotational orientation of theelectronic device 100 in the three-dimensional space 217. Other examplesof orientation detectors will be obvious to those of ordinary skill inthe art having the benefit of this disclosure.

A context engine 219 can then operable with the other components 214 todetect, infer, capture, and otherwise determine persons and actions thatare occurring in an environment about the electronic device 100. Forexample, where included one embodiment of the context engine 219determines assessed contexts and frameworks using adjustable algorithmsof context assessment employing information, data, and events. Theseassessments may be learned through repetitive data analysis or viamachine learning and training. Alternatively, a user may employ the userinterface to enter various parameters, constructs, rules, and/orparadigms that instruct or otherwise guide the context engine 219 indetecting multi-modal social cues, emotional states, moods, and othercontextual information. The context engine 219 can comprise anartificial neural network or other similar technology in one or moreembodiments.

Turning now to FIG. 3 , illustrated therein is a view of the electronicdevice 100, including the pre-formed display assembly 102, taken atcross section (205), which allows the various components of thepre-formed display assembly 102 to be seen. In one or more embodiments,the electronic device 100 includes the device housing 101 and thepre-formed display assembly 102. As shown in FIG. 3 , the pre-formeddisplay assembly 102 wraps around at least two sides of the devicehousing 101. In this illustrative embodiment, the pre-formed displayassembly 102 wraps not only around at least three sides of the devicehousing 101, but around three sides of the device housing 101.

As shown in FIG. 3 , in one or more embodiments the pre-formed displayassembly 102 comprises one or more layers that are coupled or laminatedtogether to complete the pre-formed display assembly 102. In one or moreembodiments, these layers comprise a unitary pre-formed fascia 301, afirst adhesive layer 302, a flexible display 303, an optional secondadhesive layer (not shown but would be like the first adhesive layer 302but positioned on the interior surface of the flexible display 303), andan optional substrate 304. An optional third adhesive layer could bepositioned between the optional substrate (304), where employed, or onthe interior surface of the flexible display 303 to couple thepre-formed display assembly 102 to the device housing 101. Otherconfigurations of layers suitable for manufacturing the pre-formeddisplay assembly 102 will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in theart having the benefit of this disclosure.

Beginning from the top of the layer stack, in one or more embodimentsthe unitary pre-formed fascia 301 comprises an optically transparentsubstrate. In one or more embodiments the unitary pre-formed fascia 301may be manufactured from an optically transparent material. Thismaterial can be any of a variety of materials. Examples include a thinfilm sheet of a thermoplastic material. Illustrating by example, in oneembodiment the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 is manufactured from alayer of optically transparent polyamide. In another embodiment, theunitary pre-formed fascia 301 is manufactured from a layer of opticallytransparent polycarbonate.

In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 3 , the unitary pre-formed fascia301 is manufactured from glass, and comprises a unitary pre-formed glassfascia. In one or more embodiments the unitary pre-formed glass fasciais manufactured from a chemically treated glass. The unitary pre-formedglass fascia can be strengthened using an ion exchange process. In sucha process, the unitary pre-formed glass fascia can be placed into a hightemperature salt bath where ions are introduced into the surface of theunitary pre-formed glass fascia, thereby strengthening the same. In oneor more embodiments, the unitary pre-formed glass fascia has a thicknessof between 0.3 millimeters and 0.6 millimeters. For instance, in oneembodiment the unitary pre-formed glass fascia has a thickness of about0.5 millimeters. Testing and simulation has demonstrated that where theunitary pre-formed glass fascia is so configured, it can be deformed bysqueezing the sides of the electronic device 100, thereby compressingone or more gaps 309 defined by the unitary pre-formed glass fascia.

The unitary pre-formed glass fascia of FIG. 3 has an obround shape thatincludes a first major surface 305 and at least one arched bridgingmember. The unitary pre-formed glass fascia of FIG. 3 includes twoarched bridging members, namely, a first arched bridging member 306 anda second arched bridging member 307. In this illustrative embodiment,the first major surface 305 is substantially planar. In otherembodiments, the first major surface 305 can include convex or concavecontours rather than substantially planar ones. In the illustrativeembodiment of FIG. 3 , the first arched bridging member 306 and thesecond arched bridging member 307 each define a partially circular crosssection. In other embodiments, the first arched bridging member 306 andthe second arched bridging member 307 will have other curved contours.

In this illustrative embodiment, the first arched bridging member 306 ispositioned about a first minor surface of the device housing 101. Sincethis unitary pre-formed glass fascia includes two arched bridgingmembers, the second arched bridging member 307 is also positioned abouta second minor surface of the device housing 101. Here, the first majorsurface 305 physically separates the first arched bridging member 306and the second arched bridging member 307.

In one or more embodiments, the first arched bridging member 306 and thesecond arched bridging member 307 each terminate at a gap situatedbetween the unitary pre-formed glass fascia and a rear fascia 308spanning the rear surface of the device housing 101. In one or moreembodiments, the gap 309,310 runs the length of the unitary pre-formedglass fascia, which means that the gap 309,310 spans the length (intothe page) of the unitary pre-formed glass fascia.

In one or more embodiments, when the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 ismanufactured from glass to define a unitary pre-formed glass fascia, andwhere the glass is chemically strengthened, testing and simulationdemonstrates that the glass can be deformed. Illustrating by example, inone or more embodiments a user can press either the first archedbridging member 306 or the second arched bridging member 307 to compressits respective gap 309,310. In one or more embodiments, one or morepiezoelectric sensors 311 can be positioned along the interior surfaceof the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 to detect this compression.Advantageously, this allows either the first arched bridging member 306or the second arched bridging member 307 to be used as a switch, button,or other control mechanism.

Where, for example, the unitary pre-formed glass fascia is manufacturedfrom chemically strengthened glass having a thickness of about half amillimeter, the first arched bridging member 306 and the second archedbridging member 307 can be compressed inward by loading forces, therebycompressing the gap 309,310, with the glass strain remaining well underone percent. Thus, in one or more embodiments the unitary pre-formedfascia 301 comprises a unitary pre-formed glass fascia where at leastone of the first arched bridging member 306 or the second archedbridging member 307 is deformable relative to the first major surface305 to compress at least one of gap 309 or gap 310. The one or morepiezoelectric sensors 311 can detect this deflection. Where one or moreuser actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons arepresented on either the first arched bridging member 306 or the secondarched bridging member 307, the location of the touch, as detected bythe touch sensor (202), and the compression of the arched bridge member,functions as a control mechanism to control operations of the electronicdevice in one or more embodiments.

In one or more embodiments the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 functionsas a fascia by defining a cover for the flexible display 303. In one ormore embodiments the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 is opticallytransparent, in that light can pass through the unitary pre-formedfascia 301 so that objects behind the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 canbe distinctly seen. The unitary pre-formed fascia 301 may optionallyinclude a ultra-violet barrier. Such a barrier can be useful inimproving the visibility of flexible display 303 in one or moreembodiments.

Beneath the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 is a first adhesive layer 302,which is coupled to the interior major surface of the unitary pre-formedfascia 301. In one or more embodiments, the first adhesive layer 302comprises an optically transparent adhesive. Said differently, in one ormore embodiments the first adhesive layer 302 comprises an opticallypellucid adhesive layer coupling the flexible display 303 to theinterior major surface of the unitary pre-formed fascia 301.

The optically transparent adhesive can be applied to two sides of athin, optically transparent substrate such that the first adhesive layer302 functions as an optically transparent layer having opticallytransparent adhesive on both sides. Where so configured, in one or moreembodiments the first adhesive layer 302 has a thickness of about fiftymicrons. This optically transparent version of “double-sided tape” canthen be spooled and applied between the unitary pre-formed fascia 301and the flexible display 303 to couple the two together.

In other embodiments the first adhesive layer 302 will instead beapplied between the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 and the flexibledisplay 303 as an optically transparent liquid, gel, as a homogeneousadhesive layer, or in the form of another medium. Where so configured,the first adhesive layer 302 can optionally be cured by heat,ultraviolet light, or other techniques. Other examples of materialssuitable for use as the first adhesive layer 302 will be obvious tothose of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thisdisclosure. In one or more embodiments, the first adhesive layer 302mechanically couples the flexible display 303 to the interior surfacesof the unitary pre-formed fascia 301.

In one or more embodiments, the flexible display 303 is coupled to theinterior major surface of the unitary pre-formed fascia 301. In theillustrative embodiment of FIG. 3 , the flexible display 303 is situatedbetween the optional substrate 304 and the unitary pre-formed fascia301. In other embodiments, a layer above the flexible display 303 can beconfigured with enough stiffness to make the optional substrate 304unnecessary. For example, in an embodiment where the unitary pre-formedfascia 301 is manufactured from chemically strengthened glass as aunitary pre-formed glass fascia, the optional substrate 304 may beomitted.

The flexible display 303 can optionally be touch-sensitive. In one ormore embodiments, the flexible display 303 is configured as an organiclight emitting diode (OLED) display layer coupled to the a flexiblesubstrate, which allows the flexible display 303 to bend in accordancewith various bending radii defined by the unitary pre-formed fascia 301.For example, some embodiments allow bending radii of between thirty andsix hundred millimeters. Other substrates allow bending radii of aroundfive millimeters to provide a display that is foldable through activebending. Other displays can be configured to accommodate both bends andfolds.

In one or more embodiments the flexible display 303 may be formed frommultiple layers of flexible material such as flexible sheets of polymeror other materials. Illustrating by example, the flexible display 303can include a layer of optically pellucid electrical conductors, apolarizer layer, one or more optically transparent substrates, andlayers of electronic control circuitry such as thin film transistors toactuate pixels and one or more capacitors for energy storage. In one ormore embodiments, the flexible display 303 has a thickness of about 130microns.

In one or more embodiments, so as to be touch sensitive, the flexibledisplay 303 includes a layer including one or more optically transparentelectrodes. In one or more embodiments, the flexible display 303includes an organic light emitting diode layer configured to presentimages and other information to a user. The organic light emitting diodelayer can include one or more pixel structures arranged in an array,with each pixel structure comprising a plurality of electroluminescentelements such as organic light emitting diodes. These various layers canbe coupled to one or more optically transparent substrates of theflexible display 303. Other layers suitable for inclusion with theflexible display 303 will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in theart having the benefit of this disclosure.

In one or more embodiments, where the optional substrate 304 isincluded, the flexible display 303 can be coupled to the optionalsubstrate 304 by a second adhesive layer, which would be like the firstadhesive layer 302, although not necessarily optically transparent, andwould be situated between the optional substrate 304 and the flexibledisplay 303. In one or more embodiments, to simplify manufacture, thesecond adhesive layer would be identical to the first adhesive layer302, comprising an optically transparent adhesive. However, since thesecond adhesive layer is coupled between the flexible display 303 andthe optional substrate 304, i.e., under the flexible display 303, anoptically transparent adhesive is not a requirement. The second adhesivelayer could be partially optically transparent or not opticallytransparent at all in other embodiments.

Regardless of whether the second adhesive layer is opticallytransparent, in one or more embodiments the adhesive of the secondadhesive layer is applied to two sides of a thin, flexible substrate.Where so configured, in one or more embodiments the second adhesivelayer has a thickness of about fifty microns. This extremely thinversion of “double-sided tape” can then be spooled and applied betweenthe flexible display 303 and the optional substrate 304 to couple thetwo together.

In other embodiments, as with the first adhesive layer 302, the secondadhesive layer will instead be applied between the flexible display 303and the foldable substrate as a liquid, gel, as a homogeneous layer, orin the form of another medium. Where so configured, the second adhesivelayer can optionally be cured by heat, ultraviolet light, or othertechniques. Other examples of materials suitable for use as the secondadhesive layer will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of this disclosure.

Where included, the optional substrate 304 is coupled to the flexibledisplay 303 and defines a mechanical support for the flexible display303 due to the fact that the optional substrate 304 is the stiffestlayer of the unitary pre-formed display assembly 102 other than theunitary pre-formed fascia 301. In one or more embodiments the optionalsubstrate 304 is manufactured from stainless steel with a thickness ofabout forty microns. In another embodiment, the optional substrate 304is manufactured from a flexible plastic. Other materials from which theoptional substrate 304 can be manufactured will be obvious to those ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

A third optional layer can then be positioned between the device housing101 and the optional substrate 304, where included, or the flexibledisplay 303. In one or more embodiments, to simplify manufacture, thethird adhesive layer would be identical to the first adhesive layer 302,comprising an optically transparent adhesive. However, since the thirdadhesive layer is coupled between the device housing 101 and theoptional substrate 304, where included, or the flexible display 303,i.e., interior of the flexible display 303, an optically transparentadhesive is not a requirement. The third adhesive layer could bepartially optically transparent or not optically transparent at all inother embodiments.

In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 3 , the unitary pre-formed fascia301 wraps around at least two sides of the device housing 101. In thisembodiment, the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 wraps around three sidesof the device housing 101 due to the fact that the unitary pre-formedfascia 301 includes both a first arched bridging member 306 and a secondarched bridging member 307. In other embodiments, the unitary pre-formedfascia 301 will include only one arched bridging member and will wrapabout only two sides of the device housing 101.

It should be noted that while the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 with thefirst arched bridging member 306 and second arched bridging member 307,each of which can be actuated by compression, is used as an explanatoryembodiment to describe the various methods steps of FIGS. 5-10 below, inother embodiments the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 could be replacedwith two or three segmented displays. For example, a first display couldspans the first major surface of the device housing 101, while a second,separate display spans a minor face of the device housing 101.Similarly, a first display could span the first major surface of thedevice housing 101, while a second display spans a first minor surfaceof the device housing 101 and a third display spans a second minorsurface of the device housing 101, and so forth. Thus, while the unitarypre-formed fascia 301 of FIG. 3 will be used as an explanatoryembodiment, embodiments of the disclosure are not so limited. Themethods described below with reference to FIGS. 5-10 could be used withany electronic device employing one or more displays to present one ormore user actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons alongmajor or minor surfaces of the electronic device.

Turning now to FIG. 4 , illustrated therein is the electronic device 100in operation. As shown, the pre-formed display assembly 102 ispresenting content 119. The content 119 could take any number of forms.The content can include static content, e.g., pictures, dynamic content,e.g., video, a combination of the two, user actuation targets,interactive content, or other forms of content. Still other types ofcontent suitable for presentation on the display of an electronic devicewill be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefitof this disclosure.

In this illustrative embodiment, the content 119 is in the form of amusic player since the electronic device 100 is operating in a musicplayer mode. The content 119 presents the name of a song being played,which in this case is Mac's Chicken Shack Boogie Woogie by the infamousBuster and his Bluesmen. The artist, album cover, and song title are allpresented as content 119 on the pre-formed display assembly 102. Inaddition to these items, the pre-formed display assembly 102 alsopresents one or more user actuation targets 402 with which a user mayinteract to play, pause, or stop the song.

Since the pre-formed display assembly 102 comprises the unitarypre-formed fascia 301 with the first arched bridging member 306 andsecond arched bridging member 307 serving as display portions spillingwith a waterfall effect about sides of the device housing 101,additional content can be presented here as well. In one or moreembodiments, the pre-formed display assembly 102 presents one or moreuser actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 defining one or more virtualbuttons along minor faces, e.g., the left side and right side, of thedevice housing 101.

Since the pre-formed display assembly 102 comprises the unitarypre-formed fascia (301), in this illustrative embodiment the electronicdevice 100 includes only a single display configured to present content119 on each of a first major surface (side 103), a first minor surface(side 104), and a second minor surface (side 105) of the electronicdevice 100. The unitary pre-formed fascia (301) defines a major surface(305) spanning the front major surface of the electronic device 100, andthe first arched bridging member 306 and second arched bridging member307, each of which define curved contours spanning the left minorsurface and right minor surface, respectively, of the electronic device100. Since the pre-formed display assembly 102 presents the useractuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 on the first arched bridgingmember 306 and the second arched bridging member 307, in thisillustrative embodiment these user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407are presented on the curved contours of the pre-formed display assembly102.

In this illustrative embodiment, the first arched bridging member 306presents one or more user actuation targets 403,404 defining one or morevirtual buttons. Since the electronic device 100 is operating in a musicplayer mode, user actuation target 403 comprises a “volume up” virtualbutton, while user actuation target 404 comprises a volume down virtualbutton. The second arched bridging member 307 is also presenting one ormore user actuation targets 405,406,407 defining one or more othervirtual buttons. User actuation target 405 defines a “skip forward onesong” virtual button, while user actuation target 407 defines a “skipbackward one song” virtual button. User actuation target 406 comprises a“shuffle playlist” virtual button.

These examples of virtual buttons are illustrative only. The types andnumber of virtual buttons that can be presented on the first archedbridging member 306 or the second arched bridging member 307 will varywith the mode of operation of the electronic device. For example, if theelectronic device 100 were operating in a slideshow mode of operation,user actuation target 403 may be a “brightness up” virtual button, whileuser actuation target 404 is a “brightness down” virtual button. Useractuation target 405 could be a “picture advance” virtual button whileuser actuation target 407 is a “picture reverse” virtual button, and soforth.

What is important in FIG. 4 is that the virtual buttons presented on thefirst arched bridging member 306 and the virtual buttons presented onthe second arched bridging member 307 are presented in a predefinedorder relative to a first end, here the top surface 207 of theelectronic device 100. To wit, user actuation target 403 is presentedabove, i.e., closer to the top surface 207 than, user actuation target404 on the first arched bridging member 306. Similarly, user actuationtarget 405 is closest to the top surface 207 on the second archedbridging member 307, while user actuation target 407 is the farthest.User actuation target 406 is positioned between user actuation target405 and user actuation target 407 on the second arched bridging member307.

The electronic device 100 also includes a second end, here bottomsurface 208, which is separated from the first end, i.e., top surface207, by a major face of the device housing 101. The pre-formed displayassembly 102 of FIG. 3 is presenting the one or more user actuationtarget 403,404,405,406,407 defining the one or more virtual buttonsalong minor faces of the electronic device 100 situated between thisfirst end of the device housing 101 and the second end of the devicehousing 101 in this illustrative embodiment.

While these virtual buttons provide a sleek and elegant look, as well asquick, simple, and intuitive control of the electronic device 100,embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that it is desirable to allowa user to blindly control the electronic device 100, e.g., turn thevolume up or down when the electronic device 100 is operating in a musicplayer mode, without visually needing to identify the actual orientationof the electronic device 100. Since the user actuation targets403,404,405,406,407 are presented on the first arched bridging member306 and the second arched bridging member 307, respectively, and sincethe first arched bridging member 306 and the second arched bridgingmember 307 are smooth surfaces defined by the unitary pre-formed fascia301, a person cannot simply slide their finger up and down the firstarched bridging member 306 or second arched bridging member 307 tolocate the virtual buttons. While the person could experiment usingtrial an error by squeezing the first arched bridging member 306 and thesecond arched bridging member 307 at various locations, embodiments ofthe disclosure provide for a more intuitive, efficient, and simpleprocess for locating the virtual buttons. These solutions will bedescribed below with reference to FIGS. 5-10 .

Now that various hardware components have been described, attention willbe turned to methods of using electronic devices in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the disclosure, operating steps performed byelectronic devices in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure, and advantages, features, and benefits provided byelectronic devices configured in accordance with embodiments of thedisclosure. Turning first to FIG. 5 , illustrated therein is oneexplanatory method 500 for using the electronic device 100 of FIG. 4 toquickly, easily, and simply actuate a desired user actuation targetwithout having to visually look at the electronic device 100 ordetermine a physical orientation of the electronic device 100. Themethod 500 of FIG. 5 illustrates one explanatory electronic device 100executing or more explanatory operating steps in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the disclosure. Other methods will be describedthereafter with reference to FIGS. 6-10 .

In the method 500 of FIG. 5 , when the electronic device 100 of FIG. 4is inside a pocket 509 (or other enclosed condition) and a user 507wants to activate the one or more user actuation targets403,404,405,406,407, the user 507 slides a hand 508 into the pocket 509.In one or more embodiments, the first portion of the electronic device100 the hand 508 touches is configured by the one or more processors(203) of the electronic device 100 as the “top” of the electronic device100. Thus, if the user 507 touches the bottom surface (208) of theelectronic device 100 first, when the pre-formed display assembly 102 ispresenting the one or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 inthe predefined arrangement shown in FIG. 4 , in one or more embodimentsthe one or more processors reconfigure the pre-formed display assembly102 such that the one or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406 arerearranged to be in the opposite direction. The method 500 of FIG. 5offers many benefits, one example of which is that no matter what thephysical orientation of the electronic device 100 is while in theenclosed condition, such as when the user 507 is sitting on bed wherethe electronic device 100 could be oriented horizontally inside a pocketwhere accelerometer cannot be useful, the first portion of theelectronic device 100 that is touched becomes the “top” of theelectronic device. Thus, regardless of whether the user 507 is standing,sleeping, lying upside down, or otherwise situated, the first part ofthe electronic device 100 to be touched becomes the top. The one or moreprocessors can then cause the pre-formed display assembly 102 to presentthe one or more user actuation targets 403,404,405 defining the one ormore virtual buttons in another predefined arrangement that considersthe touched portion of the electronic device 100 to be the top. It iswell to note that in one or more embodiments, the touch sensor (202)remains active even when the pre-formed display assembly 102 is notpresenting content. In one embodiment, the one or more processors (203)actuate the touch sensor (202), regardless of whether the pre-formeddisplay assembly 102 is active, following pocket context detection. Inother embodiments, the one or more processors (203) cause the touchsensor (202) to remain active in all cases, including those outside of apocket.

Illustrating by example, at step 501 the user is transitioning theelectronic device 100 of FIG. 4 , while operating in the music playermode described in FIG. 4 , to an enclosed condition by placing theelectronic device 100 into a pocket 509. Without looking, the user 507inadvertently has the electronic device 100 upside down, i.e., with thebottom surface 208 facing up. Since the electronic device 100 isoperating in the music player mode, the pre-formed display assembly 102presents the one or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407defining the one or more virtual buttons in the predefined arrangementdescribed above with reference to FIG. 4 , with user actuation target403 closer to the top surface 207 than user actuation target 404, withuser actuation target 405 closer to the top surface 207 than useractuation target 406, and so forth.

At step 502, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detectthat the electronic device 100 is now in the enclosed condition. Thiscan be done in a variety of ways. Turning briefly to FIG. 11 ,illustrated therein are two methods by which the detection of theenclosed condition can occur.

Illustrated in FIG. 11 are two methods for performing the step 502 ofdetecting, with one or more sensors of the electronic device, anenclosed condition, such as when the electronic device (100) is placedin a pocket (509) or purse. Beginning with step 1101 of the firstmethod, in one embodiment one or more processors (203) of the electronicdevice (100) detect motion, which can be continuous motion or, even ifthe user is not moving, micromotion, of the electronic device (100). Theone or more processors (203) then extract parametric data from signalscorresponding to the motion as delivered by the motion detector. The oneor more processors (203) can then compare the motion to human motion toconfirm that the electronic device (100) is disposed along a human body.When the electronic device (100) is situated in the pocket (509), theone or more processors (203) will detect human motion data.

At step 1102, the one or more processors (203) can then detect anabsence of finger touch along a device housing (101) of the electronicdevice (100). When the electronic device (100) is disposed within thepocket (509), the one or more processors (203) will accordingly detectthat the user is not touching the electronic device (100).

At step 1103, the one or more processors (203) can detect thetemperature of the electronic device (100) using the temperature sensoror alternatively the proximity sensor components. This temperaturedetection can be done for the electronic device (100) overall, atselective locations or at a first end and at a second end. In oneembodiment, the one or more processors (203) can determine if any or allof the electronic device temperature, the temperature of the first endof the electronic device (100), or the temperature at the second end ofthe electronic device (100) exceeds a predetermined threshold, such aseighty degrees Fahrenheit. In another embodiment, the one or moreprocessors (203) can determine if the temperature of the first locationof the electronic device (100) and/or the temperature at the secondlocation of the electronic device (100) exceeds a predeterminedthreshold, such as eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Where it does not, theelectronic device (100) may be stored in another vessel such as adrawer. Where it is, this optional decision can confirm that theelectronic device (100) is actually disposed within the pocket (509).Moreover, this information can be used to determine which side of theelectronic device (100) is facing toward the user due to whichcapacitive sensor is facing the body—front or back. In one or moreembodiments, an accelerometer can also distinguish sliding motion as theelectronic device (100) is being inserted into pocket (509) andmicromotion of the user's body.

In one or more embodiments, the one or more processors (203) can detecta temperature of the electronic device (100) at both the first locationand at the second location. The one or more processors (203) candetermine whether these temperatures define an approximately commontemperature. As noted above, in one embodiment the approximately commontemperature is defined by a temperature difference that is within apredefined range. In one illustrative embodiment, the temperaturedifference is plus or minus two degrees centigrade. Other ranges will beobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thisdisclosure. Where the temperature is an approximately commontemperature, this can indicate that there is no significant differentialas would be the case if the user were holding either the first end orthe second end in their hand with the other end in the air. This isindicative of the electronic device (100) being disposed within thepocket (509). Other schemes include audio analysis indicating muffeledsound in pocket, or sudden quite of acoustical noise once inserted inpocket, or other front/back/edge cap touch sensors scheme that uniquelydetermine pocket, etc.

In one or more embodiments, after executing steps 1101,1102,1103, theone or more processors (203) can confirm that the electronic device(100) is disposed within the pocket (509) when the motion corresponds tohuman movement, the absence of finger touch is confirmed, and thetemperature at the first location and the second location is within apredefined range. Accordingly, when an electronic device (100) is placedwithin a pocket (509), embodiments of the disclosure confirm no sidetouching is occurring with a touch sensor and confirm that motioncorresponds to human movement, and when both conditions are true, thenconfirm with either a temperature sensor or one or more proximity sensorcomponents that a warm body is adjacent to the electronic device (100).Where proximity sensor components are used, it can be preferable to usethe sensors disposed at the bottom of the electronic device (100). Thesecan be selected based upon a determination of a gravity direction asexplained below. If both bottom proximity sensor components indicatesimilar thermal levels, then electronic device (100) is determined to bein a pocket (509).

There are additional, optional steps that can be performed ensure thatthe conclusion that the electronic device (100) is disposed within thepocket (509) has a lower margin of error. Beginning with optional step1104, in one or more embodiments the one or more processors (203) arefurther operable to determine a direction of gravity (218) relative tothe electronic device (100).

This can be done with the accelerometer in one embodiment. In one ormore embodiments, the one or more processors (203) are further operableto determine an orientation of the electronic device (100) once theelectronic device (100) has been placed within the pocket (509).Accordingly, in one or more embodiments the one or more processors (203)confirm that at least a component of the gravity direction runs from afirst end of the electronic device (100) to a second end of theelectronic device (100) to confirm the in-pocket status, as theelectronic device (100) will generally be right side up or upside downwhen in a front or rear pants pocket. In one embodiment, once the “mostdownward” pointing end is determined, the first location and the secondlocation can be determined as a function of this end. For example, inone embodiment, both the first location and the second location aredisposed at a common end, which is the most downward pointing end, orthe second end in this example. This ensures that both the firstlocation and the second location are disposed within the pocket (509).

Where a user places the electronic device (100) in a pocket (509), aswas shown above at step (501) of FIG. 5 , the movement used to place theelectronic device (100) in the pocket (509) has associated therewith avelocity and acceleration. In one embodiment the one or more processors(203) can determine, with the motion detector whether the movementand/or motion profile, which can include velocity and acceleration,duration, and the stopping of the motion occurring during the movementexceeds a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment, a predeterminedacceleration threshold is about 0.5 meters per second square, net ofgravity. Embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that the user (507)will take care to ensure that the electronic device (100) is safelyplaced within the pocket (509). Accordingly, the movement will be slowand deliberate. Additionally, when a person is walking, the motion ofthe electronic device (100) will be slow as well. If a person is simplysitting in a chair and breathing, the velocity and accelerationexperienced by the electronic device (100) will be low as well. Byconfirming that characteristics of the movement, such as velocity andacceleration are below a predefined threshold, this can serve as anadditional confirmation of the in-pocket condition.

In one or more embodiments, the acceleration determination can be usedin other ways as well. First, it can be used to confirm that themovement moving the electronic device (100) occurred with the directionof gravity (218), i.e., downward, as would be the case when placing theelectronic device (100) in a pocket (509), but not when raising theelectronic device (100) to the user's ear. Second, by comparing theacceleration to a predetermined threshold, the acceleration can be usedto confirm that a user is actually placing the electronic device (100)in a pocket (509) rather than performing some other operation, such aswaving the electronic device (100) around. Other uses for theacceleration data will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of this disclosure.

The one or more processors (203) can compare the movement to thedirection of gravity (218). For example, in one embodiment the one ormore processors (203) can determine whether at least some of themovement was against the direction of gravity (218). Similarly, in oneembodiment the one or more processors (203) can determine whether acomponent of the direction of gravity (218) runs from a first end of theelectronic device (100) to a second end of the electronic device (100).

At optional step 1105, the one or more processors (203) can furtherconfirm that the electronic device (100) is in the pocket (509) bydetermining whether an object, such as clothing, textile materials, orother natural, synthetic, or blend layer is covering the electronicdevice (100). This determination can be made when the one or moreprocessors (203) receive signals from the one or more proximity detectorcomponents indicating that an object, such as textile material, is lessthan a predefined distance from a surface of the electronic device(100), thereby indicating that the electronic device (100) is covered bythe object. Where this occurs, the one or more processors (203) canfurther confirm that the electronic device (100) is disposed within thepocket (509). This detection of an object covering the electronic device(100) can also serve as a confirmation that the electronic device (100)is not being touched as well.

Optional step 1105 can additionally include determining, with a lightsensor, whether ambient or direct light is incident on the housing ofthe electronic device (100). Of course, when the electronic device (100)is covered by the pocket (509), ambient or direct light is generally notincident on the device housing (101). Sometimes, some of the housing isexposed from the pocket (509). However, in most situations the vastmajority of the housing is situated within the pocket (509). Modernlight sensors are more than capable of determining that the majority ofthe device housing (101) is covered. Accordingly, in one or moreembodiments the determination that the electronic device (100) isdisposed within the pocket (509) can further include determining, with alight sensor, that ambient or direct light is not incident on the devicehousing (101). Again, that is the electronic device (100) is determinedto be in the pocket (509) instead of on another surface when tilts andsmall motions are detected via the accelerometer combined with theelectronic device (100) not being touched as determined by the touchsensors of the unitary pre-formed fascia (301) positioned along thefirst arched bridging member (306) and the second arched bridging member(307).

The factors listed above can be used in the function of determiningwhether the electronic device (100) is disposed within a pocket (509),at step 1106, alone or in combination. For example, the function canconsider one, two, three, or all of the factors. Considering morefactors assists in preventing false detection of the in-pocketcondition. Embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that a user (507)should be minimally affected due to false detection. Accordingly, in oneembodiment the one or more processors (203) consider all factors.However, subsets of the factors can be useful in many applications.

The second method of FIG. 11 is simpler. In one or more embodiments, theelectronic device (100) includes at least three touch sensors. A firsttouch sensor can be disposed on the front major face of the electronicdevice (100). A second touch sensor can be disposed on the rear majorface of the electronic device (100). A third touch sensor can besituated along one or more of the first arched bridging member (306) orthe second arched bridging member (307).

At step 1107, the second method detects touch of a human body on eitherthe front major face or the rear major face of the electronic device(100). For example, when the electronic device (100) is stowed within apocket (509), a touch sensor abutting the user's leg can detect thetouch of a person from a combination of the contact and temperature ofthe person.

At step 1108, the second method detects an absence of touch on the otherof the front major face or the rear major face. For example, when theelectronic device (100) is stowed within a pocket (509), a touch sensorfacing away from the person will detect an absence of the touch of aperson from a combination of contact and temperature.

At step 1109, the second method detects an absence of touch on the firstarched bridging member (306) and second arched bridging member (307)defined by unitary pre-formed glass fascia. Where there is touchdetected on one major face, and an absence of touch detected on theother major face and the minor faces defined by the sides of theelectronic device (100), in one or more embodiments the second methodconcludes that the device is stowed within a pocket (509) at step 1110.

While two methods of detecting an electronic device (100) is in arepository container, such as a pocket (509), have been shown in FIG. 11, it should be noted that embodiments of the disclosure are not solimited. Other methods of detecting an electronic device (100) is in arepository container, such as a pocket (509) will be obvious to those ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, and canbe substituted for the methods described with reference to FIG. 11 .

Turning now back to FIG. 5 , at step 503 the user 507 is reaching herhand 508 into the pocket 509 to interact with the one or more useractuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 defining the one or more virtualbuttons positioned along one or both of the first arched bridging member306 or the second arched bridging member 307. Since the electronicdevice 100 is in the music player mode, the user 507 may desire, forexample, to turn the volume up to better hear the magic of Buster andhis Bluesmen.

At step 504, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detect anobject, which is the hand 508 of the user 507 in this example,approaching a portion of the electronic device 100. Since the electronicdevice 100 is upside down in this example, the one or more sensorsdetect the user's hand approaching the bottom surface 208 of theelectronic device 100. At step 505, the one or more processors (203) ofthe electronic device 100 therefore designate the bottom surface 208 asthe “top” of the electronic device 100. Accordingly, since the bottomsurface 208 comprises a distal portion of the device housing (101) thatis physically separated from the actual “top” of the electronic device100 (top surface 207) by the pre-formed display assembly 102, at step505 the one or more processors (203) cause the first arched bridgingmember 306 and the second arched bridging member 307 of the pre-formeddisplay assembly 102 to present the one or more user actuation targets403,404,405,406,407 in another predefined arrangement, shown at step506, that is different from the predefined arrangement described abovewith reference to FIG. 4 .

Specifically, as shown at step 506, the one or more processors (203) ofthe electronic device cause the user actuation targets403,404,405,406,407 defining the one or more virtual buttons in theopposite order of that shown in FIG. 4 . User actuation target 403 ispositioned between user actuation target 404 and the bottom surface 208at step 506. By contrast, user actuation target 403 was positionedbetween the top surface 207 and user actuation target 404 in FIG. 4 .Similarly, user actuation target 405 is positioned between the bottomsurface 208 and user actuation target 406 at step 506 rather thanbetween the top surface 207 and user actuation target 406 in FIG. 4 .

This reversal of the predefined arrangement of the one or more useractuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 defining the one or more virtualbuttons allows the user 507 to simply touch a side of the electronicdevice 100 closest to whichever end is upward to interact, for example,with user actuation target 403 or user actuation target 405. Since thelocations of these user actuation targets 403,405 is known, the user 507can simply slide their finger further down the first arched bridgingmember 306 or second arched bridging member 307 to interact with theother user actuation targets 404,406,407.

Turning now to FIG. 6 , illustrated therein is another method 600configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.The method 600 of FIG. 6 , like the method (500) of FIG. 5 , allows auser 507 to quickly, easily, and simply actuate a desired user actuationtarget (while device is inside pocket 509, the user 507 can activate adesired user actuation target by sliding their 508 hand inside thepocket 509 or pressing the user actuation target from outside the pocket509 through their clothes material) without having to visually look atthe electronic device 100 or determine a physical orientation of theelectronic device 100. The method 600 of FIG. 6 illustrates oneexplanatory electronic device 100 executing or more explanatoryoperating steps in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

At step 601 the user 507 is transitioning the electronic device 100 ofFIG. 1 to an enclosed condition by placing the electronic device 100into a pocket 509. In the method 600 of FIG. 6 , the electronic device100 is initially not operating in any particular mode. For example, ifthe electronic device 100 is a smartphone, the electronic device 100 maybe locked with no content being presented on the pre-formed displayassembly 102. Where this is the case, there may or may not be any useractuation targets defining virtual buttons presented on the first archedbridging member 306 or the second arched bridging member 307. Onceagain, without looking, the user 507 inadvertently has the electronicdevice 100 upside down, i.e., with the bottom surface 208 facing up.

At step 602, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detectthat the electronic device 100 is now in the enclosed condition. Thiscan be done in a variety of ways, including using either method of FIG.11 . Other techniques for detecting an in-pocket condition will beobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

At step 603, the electronic device 100 transitions to an active mode ofoperation. Specifically, the electronic device 100 is configured as asmartphone and is receiving a call from “KB.” Accordingly, theelectronic device 100 transitions from the inactive mode of operationoccurring at step 601 to an active mode of operation at step 603.

While in the active mode of operation, the pre-formed display assembly102 is presenting content 119. The content 119 in this examples includesa picture of KB and a notification that the call is incoming and iscoming from KB. In this illustrative embodiment, the content 119 is inthe form of telephone information since the electronic device 100 isoperating in a telephone mode. In addition to the content 119, thepre-formed display assembly 102 also presents one or more user actuationtargets 402 with which the user 507 may answer the call from KB.

Since the pre-formed display assembly 102 comprises the unitarypre-formed fascia 301 with the first arched bridging member 306 andsecond arched bridging member 307 serving as display portions spillingwith a waterfall effect about sides of the device housing 101,additional content can be presented here as well. In one or moreembodiments, the pre-formed display assembly 102 presents one or moreuser actuation targets 608,609,610,611 defining one or more virtualbuttons along minor faces, e.g., the left side and right side, of thedevice housing 101.

In this illustrative embodiment, the first arched bridging member 306presents one or more user actuation targets 608,609 defining one or morevirtual buttons. Since the electronic device 100 is operating in atelephone mode, user actuation target 608 comprises a “volume up”virtual button, while user actuation target 609 comprises a “volumedown” virtual button. The second arched bridging member 307 is alsopresenting one or more user actuation targets 610,611 defining one ormore other virtual buttons. User actuation target 610 defines a “mute”virtual button, while user actuation target 611 defines a “end call”virtual button.

What is important at step 603 is that the virtual buttons presented onthe first arched bridging member 306 and the virtual buttons presentedon the second arched bridging member 307 are presented in a predefinedorder relative to a first end, here the top surface 207 of theelectronic device 100. To wit, user actuation target 608 is presentedabove, i.e., closer to the top surface 207 than, user actuation target609 on the first arched bridging member 306. Similarly, user actuationtarget 610 is closest to the top surface 207 on the second archedbridging member 307, while user actuation target 611 is the farthest. Asbefore, the electronic device 100 also includes a second end, herebottom surface 208, that is separated from the first end, i.e., topsurface 207, by a major face of the device housing 101.

At step 604, the one or more processors (203) of the electronic device100 detecting the operating mode of the electronic device 100. In one ormore embodiments, the one or more processors (203) determine alternatepredefined arrangements of the one or more user actuation targets608,609,610,611 that may be used if the orientation of the electronicdevice 100 were to change from the default mode of operation occurringat step 603. For example, at step 603 the electronic device 100 isoperating in the telephone mode. Accordingly, in one or more embodimentswhen the one or more user actuation targets 608,609,610,611 defining theone or more virtual buttons are rearranged, they are still configured tocontrol the music player, rather than another application.

Step 604 can include the one or more processors (203) of the electronicdevice 100 using context and the mode of operation to determine anotherpredefined arrangement of the one or more user actuation targets608,609,610,611 defining the one or more virtual buttons that will bepresented in response to detecting an object approaching a portion ofthe electronic device 100. Illustrating by example, if the user 507 islistening to music and the device is inside the pocket (FIG. 4 ), step604 may comprise the one or more processors (203) of the electronicdevice 100 selecting an alternate predefined arrangement of the one ormore user actuation targets 608,609,610,611 such that the virtualbuttons place “volume up” closer to the user's approaching hand due tothe fact that the one or more processors (203) presume that the user'sfirst intent is to change volume up based on context. By contrast, ifthe electronic device 100 is operating in the telephone mode of FIG. 6 ,and may be loudly ringing, the one or more processors 203 may select analternate predefined arrangement that moves the “volume down” virtualbutton closer to the user's approaching hand due to the fact that alikely action the user 507 may take in response to a ringing phone is tosilence the ringer. This is one example, but numerous others will beobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

At step 605, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detect anobject approaching a portion of the electronic device 100. This objectmay be the hand 508 of the user 507 in this example. Since theelectronic device 100 is upside down in the pocket 509, the one or moresensors detect the user's hand approaching the bottom surface 208 of theelectronic device 100.

At step 606, the one or more processors (203) of the electronic device100 therefore designate the bottom surface 208 as the “top” of theelectronic device 100. Accordingly, since the bottom surface 208comprises a distal portion of the device housing 101 that is physicallyseparated from the actual “top” of the electronic device 100 (topsurface 207) by the pre-formed display assembly 102, at step 606 the oneor more processors (203) cause the first arched bridging member 306 andthe second arched bridging member 307 of the pre-formed display assembly102 to present the one or more user actuation targets 608,609,610,611 inanother predefined arrangement, shown at step 607, that is differentfrom the predefined arrangement shown at step 603. In this illustrativeembodiment, the new predefined arrangement shown at step 607 is theopposite of the predefined arrangement shown at step 603.

Specifically, as shown at step 607, the one or more processors (203) ofthe electronic device 100 cause the user actuation targets608,609,610,611 defining the one or more virtual buttons in the oppositeorder of that shown at step 603. User actuation target 608 is positionedbetween user actuation target 609 and the bottom surface 208 at step607. By contrast, user actuation target 608 was positioned between thetop surface 207 and user actuation target 609 at step 603. Similarly,user actuation target 610 is positioned between the bottom surface 208and user actuation target 611 at step 607 rather than between the topsurface 207 and user actuation target 611 at step 603.

This reversal of the predefined arrangement of the one or more useractuation targets 608,609,610,611 defining the one or more virtualbuttons allows the user 507 to simply touch a side of the electronicdevice 100 closest to whichever end is upward to interact, for example,with user actuation target 608 or user actuation target 610. Since thelocations of these user actuation targets 608,610 is known, the user 507can simply slide their finger further down the first arched bridgingmember 306 or second arched bridging member 307 to interact with theother user actuation targets 609,611.

Turning now to FIG. 7 , illustrated therein is another method 700configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.In the method 700 of FIG. 7 , the one or more processors (203) usesignals from the orientation detector (216) to detect the direction ofgravity 218 to rearrange one or more user actuation target defining oneor more virtual buttons on the electronic device 100. For example, anaccelerometer can be used to determine the orientation of the electronicdevice 100 relative to the direction of gravity 218, with the one ormore processors (203) using that information to cause the unitarypre-formed fascia 301 to present the one or more user actuation targetsdefining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefinedarrangement that is different from the predefined arrangement before theorientation of the electronic device 100 changed relative to thedirection of gravity 218. Advantageously, the method 700 of FIG. 7always interprets the higher surface of the electronic device 100relative to the direction of gravity 218 as the “top” of the electronicdevice 100.

Beginning at step 701, the user 507 is holding the electronic device 100in a first orientation relative to the direction of gravity 218. The oneor more processors (203) cause the first arched bridging member 306 andthe second arched bridging member 307 to present one or more useractuation targets 706,707,708,709 in a first predefined arrangement. Inthe first predefined arrangement of step 701, user actuation target 706is positioned between the top surface 207 of the electronic device 100and user actuation target 707. Similarly, user actuation target 708 ispositioned between the top surface 207 of the electronic device 100 anduser actuation target 709. Step 701 thus shows the one or moreprocessors (203) causing the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 to presentone or more user actuation targets 706,707,708,709 defining one or morevirtual buttons in a predefined arrangement relative to a first end ofthe electronic device 100, which is the top surface 207 in this example.

At step 702, the user 507 flips the electronic device 100, therebycausing the lower surface 208 to now be the higher side of theelectronic device 100 relative to the direction of gravity 218. At step703, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detect thisreversal of the direction of gravity 218 relative to the device housing101 of the electronic device. At step 704, the one or more processors(203), in response to the one or more sensors detecting the reversal ofthe direction of gravity 218 relative to the device housing 101, causethe unitary pre-formed fascia 301 to present the one or more useractuation targets 706,707,708,709 defining the one or more virtualbuttons in another predefined arrangement that is different from thepredefined arrangement of step 701.

As shown at step 705, the one or more processors (203) of the electronicdevice 100 cause the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 to present the one ormore user actuation targets 706,707,708,709 defining the one or morevirtual buttons in an opposite arrangement from that shown at step 701.Here, in the new predefined arrangement of step 705, user actuationtarget 706 is positioned between the lower surface 208 of the electronicdevice 100 and user actuation target 707. Similarly, user actuationtarget 708 is positioned between the lower surface 208 of the electronicdevice 100 and user actuation target 709. Step 705 thus shows the one ormore processors (203) causing the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 topresent one or more user actuation targets 706,707,708,709 defining oneor more virtual buttons in another predefined arrangement relative to asecond end of the electronic device 100, which is the bottom surface 208in this example.

In one or more embodiments, step 704 only occurs when the one or moresensors detect the reversal of the direction of gravity 218 relative toa major face of the device housing 101. Said differently, in one or moreembodiments step 704 occurs only when the reversal of the direction ofgravity 218 occurs along an axis parallel to a major surface of theelectronic device 100, as shown in FIG. 7 . Accordingly, in one or moreembodiments the one or more processors (203) cause the unitarypre-formed fascia 301 to present the one or more user actuation targets706,707,708,709 defining the one or more virtual buttons in the otherpredefined arrangement only when the one or more sensors detect thereversal of the direction of gravity 218 relative to a major face of thedevice housing 101.

Turning now to FIG. 8 , illustrated therein is an optional method 800that precludes any rearrangement of user actuation targets definingvirtual buttons in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure. As shown at step 801, a user 507 is again transitioning theelectronic device 100 of FIG. 4 , while operating in the music playermode described in FIG. 4 , to an enclosed condition by placing theelectronic device 100 into a pocket 509. The user 507 is listening toBuster and his Bluesmen using a wired headset 806 connected to theelectronic device 100 with a wire 807.

As before, the user 507 has the electronic device 100 upside down due tothe fact that the headset 806 is connected to the electronic device 100.Since the electronic device 100 is operating in the music player mode,the pre-formed display assembly 102 presents the one or more useractuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 defining the one or more virtualbuttons in the predefined arrangement described above with reference toFIG. 4 , with user actuation target 403 closer to the top surface 207than user actuation target 404, with user actuation target 405 closer tothe top surface 207 than user actuation target 406, and so forth.

At step 802, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detectthat the electronic device 100 is now in the enclosed condition. Thiscan be done in a variety of ways, including using either method of FIG.11 . Other techniques for detecting an in-pocket condition will beobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

At step 803, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detect achanging condition. In the illustrative example of FIG. 8 , thischanging condition is a reversal of the direction of gravity (218)similar to that detected above at step (703) of the method (700) of FIG.7 . However, the change detected at step 803 could be an approachinghand (FIG. 5 ), tapping or movement (FIG. 10 ) or another change causingthe one or more processors (203) of the electronic device 100 torearrange the one or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407defining the one or more virtual buttons. Decision 804 then determineswhether a headset 806 is connected to the electronic device 100. Whereno headset 806 is connected to the electronic device 100, step 805results in the one or more processors (203) of the electronic device 100causing the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 to present the one or moreuser actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 defining the one or morevirtual buttons in another predefined arrangement that is different fromthe original predefined arrangement as previously described.

In this illustrative embodiment, however, the headset 806 is coupled tothe electronic device 100. Accordingly, at step 805 the one or moreprocessors (203) preclude the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 frompresenting the one or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407defining the one or more virtual buttons in the other predefinedarrangement when the one or more sensors detect the reversal of thedirection of gravity (218) relative to the device housing (101) while awired headset is coupled to the electronic device 100. The reason forthis is that the user 507 is able to sense the headset jack 808, therebyinstantly determining that the lower surface 208 is exposed from thepocket 509. Since the user 507 can deduce the orientation of theelectronic device 100 from the headset jack 808, they understand wherealong the first arched bridging member 306 or second arched bridgingmember 307 to press to actuate a particular user actuation target403,404,405,406,407.

Turning now to FIG. 9 , illustrated therein is another method 900 inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Embodimentsof the disclosure contemplate that the method (700) of FIG. 7 , whichdetects a change in the direction of gravity 218 works well as a triggercausing the one or more processors (203) of the electronic device 100 tocause the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 to rearrange any user actuationtargets defining one or more virtual buttons. This is especially truewith the user's body posture is vertical, e.g., when the user 507 isstanding, sitting upright, or walking. However, if the user 507horizontal, e.g., when lying on a bed, the direction of gravity 218detection may not be the most efficient trigger. The method 900 of FIG.9 provides one alternative that is suitable for use in such situations.

As shown at step 901, a user 507 is again transitioning the electronicdevice 100 of FIG. 4 , while operating in the music player modedescribed in FIG. 4 , to an enclosed condition by placing the electronicdevice 100 into a pocket 509. As before, the user 507 has the electronicdevice 100 upside down. Since the electronic device 100 is operating inthe music player mode, the pre-formed display assembly 102 presents theone or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 defining the oneor more virtual buttons in the predefined arrangement described abovewith reference to FIG. 4 , with user actuation target 403 closer to thetop surface 207 than user actuation target 404, with user actuationtarget 405 closer to the top surface 207 than user actuation target 406,and so forth.

At step 902, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detectthat the electronic device 100 is now in the enclosed condition. Thiscan be done in a variety of ways, including using either method of FIG.11 . Other techniques for detecting an in-pocket condition will beobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

At step 903, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detect thedirection of gravity 218 relative to the device housing (101) of theelectronic device 100. If the direction of gravity 218 runs from the topsurface 207 to the lower surface 208, the one or more processors (203)of the electronic device 100 cause the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 topresent the one or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 inthe predefined arrangement shown in FIG. 4 at step 904. Where thedirection of gravity 218 runs from the lower surface 208 to the uppersurface 207, as shown at step 905, the one or more processors (203) ofthe electronic device 100 cause the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 topresent the one or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 inanother predefined arrangement at step 904.

At step 906, the one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detecta change in the direction of gravity 218. Decision 907 then determineswhether the change in the direction of gravity 218 occurred while theelectronic device 100 was in the enclosed condition, which in thisexample is that of being in the pocket 509.

In one or more embodiments, the method 900 of FIG. 9 monitors theorientation of the electronic device 100 relative to the direction ofgravity 218 while the enclosed condition is occurring. Embodiments ofthe disclosure contemplate that this can occur, for example, when theuser 507 lays down, as shown at step 908. In one or more embodiments,when this happens, the one or more processors (203) of the electronicdevice 100 preclude the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 from presentingthe one or more user actuation target 403,404,405,406,407 defining theone or more virtual buttons in the other predefined arrangement when theone or more sensors detect the change or reversal of the direction ofgravity 218 relative to the device housing (101) while the electronicdevice 100 is in the enclosed condition. Thus, at step 908 the one ormore user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 are presented in theexact same predefined arrangement as that of step 905. By contrast, whenthe change in the direction of gravity occurs when the electronic device100 is not enclosed, the one or more processors (203) can cause theunitary pre-formed fascia 301 to present the one or more user actuationtargets 403,404,405,406,407 in the other configuration at step 909, aspreviously described. Electronic device contextual detection can also betracked for orientation assessment when user 507 lays down (the lastorientation during the last pocket detection) in one or moreembodiments.

Turning now to FIG. 10 , illustrated therein is still another method1000 configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure. The method 1000 of FIG. 10 expands the method (500)described above with reference to FIG. 5 to include tapping the devicehousing 101 or pushing, i.e., applying a loading force causingtranslation of, the electronic device 100 along the direction of gravity218. The advantage of the method 1000 of FIG. 10 is in mapping each halfof the electronic device 100 as a function of the direction of gravity218 based upon which is closer to the user's body. The method 1000 canoptionally expand to situations when user actuation targets definingvirtual buttons are presented in the middle back of the electronicdevice 100, or other places where up/down is hard to discern.

As shown at step 1001, a user 507 is again transitioning the electronicdevice 100 of FIG. 4 , while operating in the music player modedescribed in FIG. 4 , to an enclosed condition by placing the electronicdevice 100 into a pocket 509. As before, the user 507 has the electronicdevice 100 upside down. Since the electronic device 100 is operating inthe music player mode, the pre-formed display assembly 102 presents theone or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 defining the oneor more virtual buttons in the predefined arrangement described abovewith reference to FIG. 4 , with user actuation target 403 closer to thetop surface 207 than user actuation target 404, with user actuationtarget 405 closer to the top surface 207 than user actuation target 406,and so forth.

At step 1002, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detectthat the electronic device 100 is now in the enclosed condition. Thiscan be done in a variety of ways, including using either method of FIG.11 . Other techniques for detecting an in-pocket condition will beobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

At step 1003, the user 507 is tapping 1007 a portion of the electronicdevice 100, here the lower surface 208, along the direction of gravity218 while the electronic device 100 is in the enclosed condition ofbeing situated within the pocket 509. While tapping 1007 is used in thisillustrative example as a condition that can occur, in other embodimentsthe condition will be pushing the portion of the electronic device 100along the direction of gravity 218 when the electronic device 100 is inthe enclosed condition.

At step 1004, one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 detectthe object, here the user's finger, tapping 1007 or pushing the portionof the device housing 101 along the direction of gravity 218 while theelectronic device 100 is in the enclosed condition. At step 1004, theone or more processors (203) designate the tapped or pushed portion asthe “top” of the electronic device 100. Accordingly, at step 1005 theone or more processors (203) cause, in response to identifying thetapped or pushed portion, which in this example is a distal portion ofthe device housing (101) from the first end (top surface 207) of thedevice housing 101 defining the predefined arrangement of the one ormore user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 defining the one or morevirtual buttons, the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 to present the one ormore user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 in another predefinedarrangement that is different from the original, as shown at step 1006and as previously described.

Specifically, as shown at step 1006, the one or more processors (203) ofthe electronic device cause the user actuation targets403,404,405,406,407 defining the one or more virtual buttons in theopposite order of that shown in FIG. 4 . User actuation target 403 ispositioned between user actuation target 404 and the bottom surface 208at step 1006. By contrast, user actuation target 403 was positionedbetween the top surface 207 and user actuation target 404 in FIG. 4 .Similarly, user actuation target 405 is positioned between the bottomsurface 208 and user actuation target 406 at step 1006 rather thanbetween the top surface 207 and user actuation target 406 in FIG. 4 .

This reversal of the predefined arrangement of the one or more useractuation targets 403,404,405,406,407 defining the one or more virtualbuttons allows the user 507 to simply touch a side of the electronicdevice 100 closest to whichever end is upward to interact, for example,with user actuation target 403 or user actuation target 405. Since thelocations of these user actuation targets 403,405 is known, the user 507can simply slide their finger further down the first arched bridgingmember 306 or second arched bridging member 307 to interact with theother user actuation targets 404,406,407.

As noted above, the headset exception could apply in the method 1000 ofFIG. 10 . Said differently, in one or more embodiments the one or moreprocessors (203) preclude the unitary pre-formed fascia 301 frompresenting the one or more user actuation targets 403,404,405,406,407defining the one or more virtual buttons in the other predefinedarrangement when the one or more sensors detect the object tapping 1007or pushing the portion of the device housing (101) while a wired headset(806) is coupled to the electronic device 100.

Turning now to FIG. 12 , illustrated therein are various embodiments ofthe disclosure. The embodiments of FIG. 12 are shown as labeled boxes inFIG. 12 due to the fact that the individual components of theseembodiments have been illustrated in detail in FIGS. 1-11 , whichprecede FIG. 12 . Accordingly, since these items have previously beenillustrated and described, their repeated illustration is no longeressential for a proper understanding of these embodiments. Thus, theembodiments are shown as labeled boxes.

At 1201, an electronic device comprises a device housing. At 1201, theelectronic device comprises one or more displays presenting one or moreuser actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons in apredefined arrangement relative to a first end of the device housing.

At 1201, one or more sensors detect an object approaching a portion ofthe device housing when the electronic device is in an enclosedcondition. At 1201, one or more processors, operable with the one ormore sensors, cause, when the portion of the device housing is a distalportion of the device housing from the first end of the device housing,the one or more displays to present the one or more user actuationtargets defining the one or more virtual buttons in another predefinedarrangement that is different from the predefined arrangement.

At 1202, the one or more processors of 1201 further detect an operatingmode of the electronic device. At 1202, the other predefined arrangementof 1201 is a function of the operating mode.

At 1203, the other predefined arrangement of 1201 arranges the one ormore user actuation targets opposite that of the predefined arrangementof 1201. At 1204, the one or more displays of 1203 present the one ormore user actuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttonsalong one or more minor faces of the device housing.

At 1205, the one or more displays of 1204 comprise a single display. At1206, the single display of 1205 comprises a unitary glass fasciadefining at least one major surface spanning a major face of the devicehousing and one or more curved contours spanning the one or more minorfaces of the device housing. At 1207, the single display of 1206presents the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or morevirtual buttons along the one or more curved contours.

At 1208, the portion of the device housing of 1204 comprises a secondend of the device housing separated from the first end of the devicehousing by a major face of the device housing. At 1209, the one or moredisplays of 1208 present the one or more user actuation targets definingthe one or more virtual buttons along minor faces of the electronicdevice situated between the first end of the device housing and thesecond end of the device housing.

At 1210, the enclosed condition of 1209 comprises an in-pocketcondition. At 1211, the one or more processors of 1210 preclude the oneor more displays from presenting the one or more user actuation targetsdefining the one or more virtual buttons in the another predefinedarrangement when the one or more sensors detect the object approachingthe portion of the device housing when a wired headset is coupled to theelectronic device.

At 1212, an electronic device comprises a device housing. At 1212, theelectronic device comprises one or more displays presenting one or moreuser actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons in apredefined arrangement relative to a first end of the device housing.

At 1212, the electronic device comprises one or more sensors detecting areversal of a direction of gravity relative to the device housing. At1212, the electronic device comprises one or more processors, operablewith the one or more sensors. At 121, the one or more processors cause,in response to the one or more sensors detecting the reversal of thedirection of gravity relative to the device housing, causing the one ormore displays to present the one or more user actuation targets definingthe one or more virtual buttons in another predefined arrangement thatis different from the predefined arrangement.

At 1213, the one or more processors of 1212 preclude the one or moredisplays from presenting the one or more user actuation targets definingthe one or more virtual buttons in the another predefined arrangementwhen the one or more sensors detecting the reversal of the direction ofgravity relative to the device housing while the electronic device is inan enclosed condition. At 1214, the one or more processors of 1212preclude the one or more displays from presenting the one or more useractuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons in theanother predefined arrangement when the one or more sensors detect thereversal of the direction of gravity relative to the device housingwhile a wired headset is coupled to the electronic device.

At 1215, the one or more processors of 1212 cause the one or moredisplays to present the one or more user actuation targets defining theone or more virtual buttons in the another predefined arrangement onlywhen the one or more sensors detect the reversal of the direction ofgravity relative to a major face of the device housing. At 1216, the oneor more processors of 1212 further detect an operating mode of theelectronic device, wherein the other predefined arrangement is afunction of the operating mode.

At 1217, an electronic device comprises a device housing. At 1217, theelectronic device comprises one or more displays presenting one or moreuser actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons in apredefined arrangement relative to a first end of the device housing.

At 1217, the electronic device comprises one or more sensors detectingan object tapping or pushing a portion of the device housing along adirection of gravity when the electronic device is in an enclosedcondition. At 1217, the electronic device comprises one or moreprocessors, operable with the one or more sensors. At 1217, the one ormore processors cause, when the portion of the device housing is adistal portion of the device housing from the first end of the devicehousing, the one or more displays to present the one or more useractuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons in anotherpredefined arrangement that is different from the predefinedarrangement.

At 1218, the one or more processors of 1217 preclude the one or moredisplays from presenting the one or more user actuation targets definingthe one or more virtual buttons in the other predefined arrangement whenthe one or more sensors detect the object tapping or pushing the portionwhile a wired headset is coupled to the electronic device. At 1219, theone or more displays of 1217 comprise a unitary glass fascia defining atleast one major surface spanning a major face of the device housing andat least one curved contour spanning a minor face of the device housing,wherein the one or more user actuation targets defining the one or morevirtual buttons are presented along the at least one curved contour. At1220, the first end of 1219 and the portion of the electronic deviceseparated by the at least one curved contour.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the presentdisclosure have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in theart appreciates that various modifications and changes can be madewithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forthin the claims below. Thus, while preferred embodiments of the disclosurehave been illustrated and described, it is clear that the disclosure isnot so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations,substitutions, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure asdefined by the following claims.

For example in one or more embodiments an in-pocket context triggers anorientation detector, which in turns triggers the predefined arrangementof one or more user actuation targets defining one or more virtualbuttons along curved contours of a unitary pre-formed fascia. In one ormore embodiments, when the electronic device is in a pocket and theelectronic device orientation is right side up, the one or more useractuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons are presentedin a first predefined arrangement. By contrast, if the electronic deviceis in a pocket and the electronic device is oriented upside down, theone or more user actuation targets defining the one or more virtualbuttons are presented in another predefined arrangement that isdifferent from the first predefined arrangement.

In one or more embodiments, sliding a hand and touching the electronicdevice defines a touched portion of the electronic device as the “top,”thereby configuring the predefined arrangement used for the one or moreuser actuation targets defining the one or more virtual buttons.Operating mode and other contextual cues can also drive predefinedarrangement used for the one or more user actuation targets defining theone or more virtual buttons.

Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of present disclosure. Thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a device housing; one or more displays causing a presentation of one or more user actuation targets relative to a first end of the device housing; one or more sensors detecting an object approaching a portion of the device housing; and one or more processors, operable with the one or more sensors, the one or more processors causing, when the portion of the device housing is a distal portion of the device housing from the first end of the device housing, the one or more displays to alter the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more processors further detecting an operating mode of the electronic device, wherein the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets is altered as a function of the operating mode.
 3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets is altered to an opposite arrangement.
 4. The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more displays presenting the one or more user actuation targets along one or more minor faces of the device housing.
 5. The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more displays comprising a single display.
 6. The electronic device of claim 5, the single display comprising a unitary glass fascia defining at least one major surface spanning a major face of the device housing and one or more curved contours spanning one or more minor faces of the device housing.
 7. The electronic device of claim 6, the single display presenting the one or more user actuation targets along the one or more curved contours.
 8. The electronic device of claim 1, the portion of the device housing comprising a second end of the device housing separated from the first end of the device housing by a major face of the device housing.
 9. The electronic device of claim 8, the one or more displays presenting the one or more user actuation targets along minor faces of the electronic device situated between the first end of the device housing and the second end of the device housing.
 10. The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more sensors detecting the object approaching the portion of the device housing when the electronic device is in a pocket-enclosed condition.
 11. The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more processors precluding the one or more displays from altering the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets when the one or more sensors detect the object approaching the portion of the device housing while a wired headset is coupled to the electronic device.
 12. An electronic device, comprising: a device housing; one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets; one or more sensors detecting a rotation of the electronic device relative to a direction of gravity; and one or more processors, operable with the one or more sensors, the one or more processors causing, in response to the one or more sensors detecting the rotation of the electronic device relative to the direction of gravity, the one or more displays to alter presentation of the one or more user actuation targets.
 13. The electronic device of claim 12, the one or more processors precluding the one or more displays from altering the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets when the one or more sensors detecting the rotation while the electronic device is in an enclosed condition.
 14. The electronic device of claim 12, the one or more processors precluding the one or more displays from altering the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets when the one or more sensors detect the rotation while a wired headset is coupled to the electronic device.
 15. The electronic device of claim 12, the one or more processors causing the one or more displays to alter the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets only when the one or more sensors detect the rotation occurring relative to a major face of the device housing.
 16. The electronic device of claim 12, the one or more processors further detecting an operating mode of the electronic device, wherein the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets is altered as a function of the operating mode.
 17. An electronic device, comprising: a device housing having an end and a distal end; one or more displays presenting one or more user actuation targets defining one or more virtual buttons; one or more sensors detecting an object moving a portion of the device housing along a direction of gravity; and one or more processors, operable with the one or more sensors, the one or more processors causing, when the portion of the device housing is the distal end of the device housing, the one or more displays to alter presentation of the one or more user actuation targets.
 18. The electronic device of claim 17, the one or more processors precluding the one or more displays from altering the presentation of the one or more user actuation targets when the one or more sensors detect the object moving the portion while a wired headset is coupled to the electronic device.
 19. The electronic device of claim 17, the one or more displays comprising a glass fascia defining at least one major surface spanning a major face of the device housing.
 20. The electronic device of claim 17, the end of the electronic device and the portion of the electronic device separated by at least one curved contour. 